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Mapping
Who knew Canada had so many macabre municipalities, sinister sites and disturbing districts?
Would you live in a place called Murder Bay? What about along Broken Skull River? Freak Island? These may sound like places from the pages of a spooky storybook, but they’re in fact real Canadian locations.
Some, like Saskatchewan’s Sleepy Hollow, ring familiar. Others, like New Brunswick’s Pull and Be Damned Narrows, makes you wonder what sordid backstory led to its moniker (for the record: this particular name reportedly arose from how hard it was to paddle against the rush of the Letang River.)
Whether the place name was inspired by the afterlife – Tombstone Pass, Hell Gate, RIP Point – or pays tribute to a classic Halloween trope – Broomstick Island, Pumpkin Hill, Skeleton Valley – explore the map above to discover some thrilling and chilling Canadian locales.
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Mapping
The staff of the Inuit Heritage Trust is racing across Canada’s North to document traditional Inuit place names before much of that knowledge passes on with the elders who hold it. Canadian Geographic sits down with lead researcher Lynn Peplinski.
Wildlife
Wildlife names that could use a rebrand
People & Culture
The history behind the Dundas name change and how Canadians are reckoning with place name changes across the country — from streets to provinces
Places
Google Earth Voyager story highlights place names and naming practices of Indigenous Peoples across Canada